This is probably a stupid question but....do you worry about the nails and staples when you break up pallets to burn? Or are you just careful to take them out in the ashes? My gas is off since I couldn't pay the $200 for a month of gas, so I have to use my wood furnace. Thanks for any information.

Enjoy your life.

-- Deborah (bearwaoman@Yahoo.com), April 11, 2001

Answers

Nails are no problem. Once burned they will eventually rust away but this may take many years. Be sure not to dump ash whare the nails might be driven on by vehicles (this might cause a flat tire).

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

Well, I wouldn't use those ashes anywhere you might run a tire over, wheelbarrow or car. Don't laugh. One year dear hubby spread ashes on the icy driveway and some overlooked nails put a couple of flats on the truck. Live and learn. Kate

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), April 11, 2001.

I dont worry about it too much,, depends on whta you do with the ashes,, can use a magnet to pull them out,, or sift them

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), April 11, 2001.

i have burned a lot of palllets and scrap lumber i dont worry too much about the nails in the garden because after that much intense heat they tend to rust away in a short few years i do pull some spikes and use a magnet on realy naily batches ,i no longer use the ashes in the outer fields because i have noticed the cows eating ashes and want to avoid hardware disease ashes are a great fertilize .oh and it shouldnt need telling again but i will repeat it DO NOT BURN TREATED LUMBER you can tell it by the greenish color the arsnic,cadnium ect... are toxic in the fumes and the ashes some pine woods burn very hot and fast so dont overload your furnace and keep the chimney clean. winter is over here but i haul wood year round a truck load or a few pieces i just keep piling so there is plenty hereas a mater of fact i think i have a year supply or more on hand now i do sell a little wood ,the nice pieces that split with an axe and use the rough stuff for me if it will fit in the furnaces at home it is just fine for me

-- george darby (windwillow@fuse.net), April 12, 2001.